COMMENTS
I found this article interesting on two counts. First was the quality of the content, and second was the source. You see, Reformation 21 is a part of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.
So is the author advocating or predicting the total collapse of evangelicalism? Certainly not, as Jesus commanded all to be evangelists in the Great Commission. If I read this article correctly, and the opinion of Francis Shaeffer from some 40+ years ago (see book below), it is a call to return to evangelism as the author states in substance. Doing away with the worldly influence that has been invited into the “church” over the years, and urging a return to the fundamental doctrines/principles of the Bible.
This reminds me of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in the opening Chapter of his Second Epistle. Here, Paul is reminding Timothy not to compromise his faith and always seek and share sound teaching, Sola Scriptura. It is a call to Evangelistic pursuits that do not involve theatrics or feel-good moments. It is a call to preach, teach, and share God’s Holy Word without compromise.
One would think all “Christians” would never dare to compromise the Holy Word of God. Then again, maybe they are ignorant of 2 Corinthians 5:10?
Please Pray for the Ministers of God’s Holy Word and Sacraments.
DEFINITIONS
evangelical A term used in Europe for “Protestant.” In America it has come to refer to one who stresses the need for a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ by faith. Some who claim the term seek to define it further in terms of theological beliefs about particular issues.
Evangelical – Christianity. A group or church which places particular emphasis on the scriptures as the only authority in matters of faith and conduct. It was first used in the sixteenth century to refer to Catholic writers who wished to place more emphasis on the authority of scripture than medieval church tradition, but is now used to describe any group of Christians across the denominations who place particular emphasis on the use of the BIBLE in Christian life. Most EVANGELISTS subscribe to four assumptions concerning the reality of being a Christian, which includes the fundamental tenet of following the authority of scripture. The other three are the uniqueness of REDEMPTION through the CRUCIFIXION and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ, the need for a personal redemptive experience and the urgent necessity of preaching the gospel.
Ron Geaves, “Evangelical,” in Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms (London; New York: Continuum, 2002), 113.
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evangelical churches In Europe the term refers to Protestant churches. In America the term is generally applied interdenominationally to churches that emphasize evangelism and the need for a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ by faith.
evangelical liberalism A movement within Protestant theology (1880–1930), also called “New Theology” or “progressive orthodoxy,” that sought to synthesize traditional Christian doctrine with the advances in science and culture in order to make Christianity more appealing to contemporary persons.
evangelical spirituality Traditional spiri tual emphases among evangelicals have focused on Bible reading and prayer. Today wider dimensions are found among those who seek to join evangelical zeal with social service and social action.
evangelical theology A transdenominational movement in American Protestantism that stresses the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the proclamation of the gospel (Gr. euangelion). It is variously defined, emphasizing biblical authority and Jesus as Savior.
evangelicalism An interdenominational movement in American Protestantism that emphasizes the spreading of the gospel through evangelism and the need for a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ through faith. It has been marked by a more pronounced social concern than is common in fundamentalism. See also fundamentalism.
evangelism (Gr. euangelion, “good news”) The sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ through a variety of means.
evangelist (Gr. euangelion, “good news”) One who shares the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Donald K. McKim, The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014), 110.
Evangelist – Christianity. Used in the New Testament to denote someone who ‘announces news’ and usually translated as ‘preach the gospel’. The scripture utilizes the term for the work of God, Jesus Christ, the APOSTLES and even ordinary members of the fledgling church. It is now used to describe anyone who commits his or her life to spreading the Christian message. More specifically it is used to describe any of the writers of one of the four GOSPELS.
Ron Geaves, “Evangelist,” in Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms (London; New York: Continuum, 2002), 113.
neo-evangelical (mid-twentieth cent.). The term neo-evangelical was coined by Harold J. Ockenga (1905–1985) to describe an emerging movement in mid-twientieth-century American Protestantism. Neo-evangelicals sought to remain rooted in the core doctrines of Protestant orthodoxy while at the same time promoting an openness to scholarly dialogue with liberal and neo-orthodox theologians, as well as a renewed social and political awareness and concern for the poor and disadvantaged. This was a move away from the militancy of *fundamentalism toward a keener emphasis upon developing a Christian social conscience. Key to this movement was the founding of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. Ockenga served as the first president of Fuller.
Nathan P. Feldmeth, Pocket Dictionary of Church History: Over 300 Terms Clearly and Concisely Defined, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008), 102.
STUDY
The Bible establishes evangelism as a central responsibility for believers, grounded in Christ’s authority and the transformative power of the gospel message.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all nations, making disciples and teaching them to observe His commands (Matt 28:18–20), establishing the foundational mandate for spreading faith. This commission extends to preaching the good news to every person (Mark 16:15), and believers receive the Holy Spirit’s power to witness from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The scope is universal—the gospel must be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations (Matt 24:14).
Scripture emphasizes both the urgency and manner of evangelism. Preachers are called to herald God’s Word with persistent readiness, whether circumstances seem favorable or not (2 Tim 4:2). Yet this boldness must be tempered with grace: believers should always be prepared to give a logical defense of their faith courteously and respectfully (1 Pet 3:15). Speech should be gracious and seasoned with wisdom, enabling thoughtful responses to questions (Col 4:2–6).
The theological foundation rests on humanity’s spiritual condition and Christ’s redemptive work. People cannot call on Christ without believing in Him, cannot believe without hearing, and cannot hear without a preacher (Rom 10:14–15). God has given believers the ministry of reconciliation, making them Christ’s ambassadors who appeal to others on His behalf (2 Cor 5:18–20). Personal testimony matters too—Jesus instructed a healed man to tell his family and community what God had done, resulting in widespread amazement (Mark 5:19–20).
Evangelism flows from both compulsion and conviction. Paul felt compelled by necessity to preach, declaring woe upon himself if he failed to do so (1 Cor 9:16). The gospel itself is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16), making its proclamation not optional but essential. Believers function as light in the world, allowing their moral excellence and good deeds to reflect God’s character and draw others to Him (Matt 5:14–16).
Human witness extends beyond formal preaching. The apostles testified that they could not help but speak what they had witnessed (Acts 4:20), suggesting that authentic faith naturally overflows into witness. Even persecution scattered believers who went about proclaiming the gospel wherever they traveled (Acts 8:4), demonstrating that evangelism persists regardless of opposition.
Evangelical theology centers on several interconnected convictions that shape how evangelicals understand and practice their faith. At its foundation lies a commitment to biblical authority—the conviction that Scripture alone provides the authoritative standard for Christian belief and practice1. Evangelicals approach the Bible through literal, historical, grammatical, and contextual interpretation1, allowing the text to speak on its own terms rather than through institutional filters.
A second defining feature is the emphasis on individual conversion and personal accountability, where each person bears responsibility for their own decision to commit to Christ1. This personal dimension distinguishes evangelicalism from traditions emphasizing corporate salvation through institutional membership. Evangelical theology pivots on Christ’s death and resurrection as the gospel’s essence, understanding Jesus’s sacrifice as addressing the world’s sin1.
Evangelicals prioritize missionary work and gospel proclamation globally1, while also seeking to influence culture and society as expressions of Christian witness1. This includes stressing evangelism, conversion, and missionary endeavor alongside sanctification through holy living2.
Importantly, evangelical theology centers on the sovereign God; the divine Christ who bears sin, rises, and will return; divine forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ’s cross; the Holy Spirit’s mediation of communion with God through faith; and the church as spiritually constituted by born-again believers3. Rather than treating these convictions as fixed dogma, evangelicals hold their theology open to testing and correction by Scripture, which explains why contemporary evangelicals maintain methodological unity while disagreeing on specific theological issues3.
- 1Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014–2021). [See here, here, here, here, here, here.]
- 2Harriet A. Harris, “Evangelical Theology,” in The Dictionary of Historical Theology (Carlisle, Cumbria, U.K.: Paternoster Press, 2000), 198.
- 3D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Scripture and Truth (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992), 328.
AI-generated summary responses from LOGOS Bible Software
MAIN ARTICLE
The End of the Evangelical Experiment?
Brett Lee-PriceMay 19, 2026 Reformation21
There is a certain irony in asking whether the evangelical experiment has come to an end at precisely the moment when evangelicalism appears, at least superficially, to be everywhere. Its language permeates Christian discourse; its institutions dominate the Protestant landscape; its instincts shape everything from preaching styles to publishing strategies. Yet ubiquity is not the same as vitality. Indeed, it may well be the mask behind which decline hides most effectively.
The question, then, is not whether evangelicalism exists, but whether the particular form it has taken in the 20th and early 21st centuries has proven itself fit for purpose. And here, one suspects, the answer is far less comforting. For if the experiment was intended to produce a church capable of withstanding the pressures of an increasingly secular age while maintaining fidelity to the gospel once delivered to the saints, then the results thus far are decidedly underwhelming.
At the heart of the problem lies a paradox: evangelicalism, in its modern guise, has arguably sought unity at the expense of identity. And in so doing, it has rendered itself increasingly incapable of speaking with clarity, conviction, or authority to the world it inhabits…
CONTINUED @ SOURCE
May I also highly recommend reading The Great Evangelical Disaster Schaeffer, Francis A. • Crossway • 1984
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